Posts Tagged ‘excitement’

Part of me wishes I could have done this strip Monday to commemorate the DVD release of Spider-Man, but I was on such a role inserting Cami into the strips, why kill a good thing?

Besides, this leaves room for me to do a whole week of Spider-Man strips. I’ve got some ideas, so stay tuned for those.

My love for all things Spider-Man knows no bounds. I’ve been reading the comics since I was about 8. I’ve since had to let it slide for financial reasons and, admittedly, the clone storyline of the late 90’s did a lot to sour my expectations of my favorite friendly, neighborhood wall-crawler. But the initial appeal and awe of Spider-Man will never wane. He’s the best super hero hands down in my book.

What a relief after almost a decade of legal wrangling that Sam Raimi didn’t screw it up when he brought ol’ web-head to the silver screen. Sure, there were moments of camp and, in certain parts of the web-slinging screamed “YOU ARE WATCHING A SPECIAL EFFECT”, there is a lot of love and admiration of the character in the film. Because of it, I respect it.

Shameful as it is to admit, I didn’t wait in line overnight to pick up my copy of the movie when it came out on Friday. This time of year is often nebulous and frustrating because since I have both my birthday and Christmas in December, I can’t go out and buy some of the movies or CD’s I want.

I talk so much about the new releases that I can’t be sure someone hasn’t already gone out and purchased something for me as a gift. So from the beginning of November until the end of the year, I’m caught in a self-imposed media lockout. I realize that if I end up getting a second copy of a movie, I can just take it back, but it’s never worth the hassle. Have you ever tried returning something to Target without the receipt? Plus, if someone is going out of their way to get me anything at all, it’s too heartbreaking to tell them “Sorry, I already have this” Everyone wants to feel like they put some thought into their gift giving. I can’t bear to bring that disappointment in their lives because I can’t display a little self-restraint.

But don’t think it doesn’t tear me up to see those Spider-Man displays everywhere I turn…

Related Posts ¬

Because I know I’m going to get a lot of questions from people asking “Does Iowa really look like that?” I took the time to draw an incentive sketch that really gives you a sense of scale and space here on the open prairie. You can view it by voting for Theater Hopper at buzzComix.

So, in case you hadn’t heard, the new Superman starring in Bryan Singer’s addition to the franchise is Iowa native Brandon Routh. He’s been a virtual unknown up to this point, which I believe was Singer’s intention. I imagine he’ll be fine in the role. After all, no one really knew who Christopher Reeve was until he put on the cape.

I dunno. Looking at pictures of Routh, I think he looks too young. I mean, he’s two years younger than I am, for crying out loud. He’s also two years younger than the current, HIGH SCHOOL-AGED Superman Tom Welling from the television show Smallville.

I guess whenever I think of Superman, I think of an older father-figure. Someone in his 30’s AT LEAST. I mean, look at the new Batman movie coming out with Christian Bale. Bale is 30 years old exactly and he’s playing Batman in the first year of his crime fighting career. It still feels more correct than casting a 24 year-old to play Superman.

Maybe it’s the whole authority issue. Superheroes are kind of this alpha-male archetype that we tend to look up to. All I’m saying is that I’m going to have trouble suspending disbelief when I’m supposed to marvel at a Superman that could have been my best friend’s little brother at once point. I could give this guy a noogie, for Pete’s sake… An atomic wedgie, y’know?

Onto today’s comic. The conversation playing out online in the strip pretty much happened word-for-word in my own community, The THorum. As odd as it will be to see Routh in the blue tights, I am proud that a once fellow denizen of The Hawkeye State has gone on to bigger and bolder things.

Sure, some of you might live in states where celebrities have been cropping up left and right. But around here, it’s been less common. Who has Iowa given to entertainment? Well, John Wayne and Donna Reed are good starts. But no one from my generation, really. No. Scratch that. There’s Ashton Kutcher and Elijah Wood (both from Cedar Rapids). But, you know. It’s not common. That’s all I’m saying.

At any rate, it IS a big deal. I mean, after all this is the state whose largest newspaper has an article each week updating Rory’s status on Survivor. That’s right! Rory’s from Iowa, too! We’re taking over your town next!

Speaking of The THorum, I wanted to announce to all potential advertisers that we’re now selling ad space in The THorum. It’s a really good deal. By volume, this is probably the one place on the site that will generate for you the most repeat impressions. But lucky for you, we’re not selling by ad views, but by spans of time! So you can reserve this spot for a week, two weeks or even a month on the cheap and no one else is going to share it will you!

We recently just welcomed our 400th registrant, but there are tons of people reading the THorum who aren’t signed up. This is a good opportunity to get your site in front of a lot of people! If you’re interested, contact me for information about advertising rates and availability!

First, I have to say thank you to fellow Dayfree Press alumni Jim Burgess of Able & Baker for his great guest strip today. For some reason, I’m really excited by the idea of “Office Wookie.” Do you think NBC is desperate enough to film a pilot?

At any rate, check out Jim’s comic. It’s criminally underrated. The writing is sharp as a tack!

Thanks for keeping Theater Hopper up there in the rankings while I was away, guys! That was very awesome of you!

As a reward for your dilligence, I’ve posted a HUGE message recapping my whole trip right here. It might take a while to load – there are about 30 pictures – but I think it’s kind of a fun read and you get a little insight as to what I was up to for the last 6 days.

Need a little preview? Okay, try this on for size:

I must stress for the record that I am NOT DRUNK in this picture. They caught me mid-blink, okay?

I have more thoughts, but I’ll save them for later. I’m tired after posting that huge message in the THorum!

I don’t know if real-life Jared is as much of a Joss Whedon fan as I’ve depicted him here. I’ll have to ask him. Although I am aware that he is somewhat fond of Alien: Resurrection, based off his screenplay.

Some of you who visit this site won’t know who Whedon is because his official, credited track-record in the film world is spotty at best.

In addition to penning Sigourney Weaver’s last romp in space as Ripley, he also wrote Titan A.E. and wrote a treatment for Atlantis: The Lost Empire. He’s been brought in as a script doctor on high profile films like Toy Story because of his signature command of snappy dialogue. He’s probably be brought in to touch up many more, but only the good folks at Pixar have credited him.

Film work aside, he’s best known for his work in television as the creator and head writer of both Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. He’s also recently gotten into comic books, writing the wildly popular Astonishing X-Men – a brand new monthly title created just for him to play around in.

Needless to say, nerds love him.

And while I have a passing admiration for the guy, I’m not a big follower of his work. I never really got into Buffy because we didn’t have the WB in these parts when it first came on. By the time we got it, the show had moved to UPN. I’ve caught a few episodes here and there in syndication, but there’s a whole mythology in place there that I could never crack. Renting the DVD sets of each season was just out of the question. I didn’t have the time.

Anyway, after Buffy and (sorta) after Angel, Whedon took another stab at television with a "space opera-slash-cowboy" adventure program called Firefly. Don’t ask me what it’s about. I never watched it. The show ran on the Fox network from 2002-03 and, in typical Fox fashion, they promoted the hell out of the premiere episode. When it didn’t draw huge numbers, they shuffled it off to Saturday night. A dead zone. And there it expired.

Like so many "brilliant but canceled" television shows these days, the entire run was put out on DVD and drew big numbers from fans devoted to all things Whedon. Fast forward a few years and a movie starring the cast of Firefly has been reborn on the big screen under the moniker of Serenity.

Clear as mud? Good.

This has been a very… specific process for bringing this concept from the small screen to the big screen and in that respect it becomes a curiosity. As I said earlier, I admire Whedon. I’m familiar with his "voice" if I’m not overtly familiar with his body of work. He’s like Mamet in a way, to me. I’ll see one of his films every so often, but the dude is out there writing stage plays that I will never hear.

So I’m interested in what kind of activity Serenity my conjure up this weekend, but remain pragmatic in the regard that this film is pretty much strictly for fans who felt burned by Fox’s decision to ax Firefly.

So, those marketing the film are left with a couple of options. Do they try to bridge the gap to lure in casual fans like myself or even those less familiar?

Or do they aim straight up the middle and only attempt to draw in those already up to speed with the franchise?

Based off the trailer, I would say the latter. And this will make for a quick burn through the multiplexes, mark my words.

This, of course, is a shame. I think Whedon is a talent strong enough to be introduced to as many people as possible. Now that his profile is raised, he needs to approach his next project holistically and call attention to himself that way. A film adaptation of Wonder Woman is next on his docket and that might do the trick. But for the immediate future, Serenity is not that picture.

So, as previously stated, today is the big day. The release of Superman Returns. Personally, I couldn’t be more excited. The more and more the hype builds around the movie, the more I’m ready to see it.

Yes, I’ve seen the reviews that say it’s bloated at 2+ hours and that there’s too much Clark Kent and not enough Superman, but I don’t care. Even if it lets me down, just as I suggest in the comic, it’s a good time to be alive.

For years and years, comic book fans got the shaft when it came to reinterpretation of their favorite characters. Looking at yesterday’s confluence of events – where Superman Returns would be in theaters and the trailer for Spider-Man 3 appeared online – I recognized the amazing jump in quality we’ve experienced with these franchises in less than 10 years. If you’re a geek, it’s incredibly validating because you feel like other mediums are finally taking you seriously. Comics aren’t just kids stuff anymore. Their modern fables for all of us.

And that’s an important excuse for me to pull out of my hat whenever Cami asks me how much I spent on comics this week!

I don’t want to get too much into discussing Spider-Man 3. Otherwise I think I’m going to be all over the map with my commentary. So, for the next few days, I’m all about Superman Returns. Expect Friday’s comic to carry the narrative thread.

I probably won’t see the movie until Saturday – which sucks. Life just gets in the way sometimes, you know? But I’m not stressing. I’m sure I’ll see it two or three more times before the end of the blockbuster season.

Seriously, guys. You should have been hanging out with me yesterday. I was on Cloud 9. As I was driving to pick up the books from the frieght agency that was storing them on their docks, I swear the air was sweeter and my car stereo was pumping tunes more clearly. Flipping through this book… to have it in my hands… WOW. Big accomplishment for me. You have no idea.

Sincere thanks to each and every one of you who pre-ordered a copy. You helped make my dream come true! Now that I have this first book under my belt, I hope to do "Theater Hopper: Year Two" very soon. I’d love for it to be out by Christmas, but it really depends how well "Theater Hopper: Year One" sells first.

On that note, if you were holding off on pre-ordering a copy of "Theater Hopper: Year One," these pictures are the proof that – yes – the book IS in fact REAL. You should order one soon. We’ve already burned through half of our first print run and I’m taking a BUNCH of these books to Wizard World Chicago. So there might be very less very soon!

I can’t tell you how excited I am. Cami and I have put together a great plan to get this book in front of many people as possible. You guys have helped us meet the first goal. Now we’re going to start trying to get press for the book – both local and national – and see if we can’t push things a little farther in regards to Theater Hopper’s overall visibility and success.

I’m so excited! I just talked Cami into seeing Pan’s Labyrinth this weekend! Originally, she had been resistant to the idea. She doesn’t really care for fantasy movies. But as we’re closing in on our due date (less than a month away!) more and more of our friends who have kids are telling us “Go out now while you still can! Go on dates! Go out to dinner! Because after the baby, IT’S OVER!!!”

So, we’re taking that to heart.

I had to do a bit of bargaining to make this happen. I promised Cami I would see that new Diane-Keaton-gets-laid movie Because I Said So in a couple of weeks. I had to promise not to make any disparaging remarks about the film excluding the idea I had for a comic revolving around the movie I’ve been sitting on for two weeks. Those of you in relationships might recognize this kind of compromise.

The good news is that I got a really good idea for a comic that I can use for tomorrow’s update out of all of this. Gotta keep your eyes peeled for inspiration!